Apparel-shirt-collar supporter.



, Pafented. 0st. l6, I900.

E. w. BALDING. APPAREL SHIRT GOLLAR SUPPORTER.

(Application filed Oct. 25, 1899.) (No lodel.)

W M W w W w ire Srarns EDGAR \V. BALDING, OF AVON-BY-THE-SEA, NEW JERSEY.

APPAREL-SHIRT-COLLAR SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,884, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed October 25,1899. Serial No. 734,769. \No model) To (DZZ whom, it vita/y concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. BALDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avonby-the-Sea, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Collar, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collarsfor personal wear, and has special reference to that type of collars worn by women and which are usually trimmed with ribbon or other dress material suitable for use in connection with the waist of the wearer.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a novel form of collar to be used as a lining or foundation-body for suitable trimming, so constructed as to conform neatly and comfortably to the neck, while at the same time being provided with simple, but positive, means whereby the collar is capable of enlargement or contraction to adapt the same to diiferen t-sized necks,while also causing the collar to snugly fit the dress-band and to remain properly in place without the aid of pins, hooks and eyes, or other fasteners which are usually employed to secure the lapped rear ends of the collar at the back of theneck.

With these and other objects in view,which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collar constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same in the position it assumes when fitting the band of the dresswaist. Fig. 2 is a side view of the collar, showing the flaring form thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detail vertical sectional view on the line il of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the fabric strips of which the collar-band is made. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of one end of the collar-band, illustrating the preferred way of securing the ends of the spring.

In carrying out the present invention it has been found necessary in order to insure a proper fit to construct the band of the collar so that the same when coiled into circular shape to encircle the neck will be of a flaring form, with the greatest inclination at the front side thereof and assuminga more-nearly vertical plane at the rear lapped ends. To secure this shape, the collar-band 1 is made from two duplicate fabric strips 2, each of which is cut in approximately segmental shape, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that when the ends of the strips are brought together and lapped the band produced thereby will assume the shape shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The duplicate fabric strips 2 may be cut from any suitable cloth or equivalent material, although it is preferable to cut the outer strip 2 from material of sufficient stiffness to render the collar suitable as a lining or foundation-body for any trimming that may be placed thereon. The two strips 2, constituting the collar-band 1, are placed side by side and are stitched together along their side and end edges,which edges may be provided with a suitable binding 3for reinforcing purposes. By reason of joining the duplicate band-strips 2 only at their side and end'edges the said strips necessarily form therebetween acontinuous casing or pocket 4, designed for the reception of a convolute adjusting-spring 5. The convolute adjusting-spring 5 is concealed wholly within the casing or pocket of the band and extends longitudinally from end to end thereof, said spring preferably consisting of a Hat spring-strip which is normally bent into its convolute shape to provide for normally bending the collar into circular form and to give it elasticity circumferentially thereof. The said convolute adjusting-spring 5 is coextensive in length with but narrower in width than the collar-band 1 and is designed to be attached only at its ends to said hand. To make provision for suitably fastening the terminals of the spring-strip to the terminals or ends of the collar-band, the said springstrip is preferably provided in its ends with sewing holes 6 and with engaging notches 7 in opposite edges thereof. The fasteningthread may be sewed directly through the holes 6 of the spring and the end portions of the collar-band and may also be wound into the engaging notches 7 to form a connection between the ends ofthe spring and the end portions of the collar-band, it being observed at this point that the fastened ends of the spring are located at a point centrally between the side edges of the band.

\ It is of course necessary in carrying out the invention to fasten the ends of the spring to the ends of the collar-band, and it has also been found equally important to the successful carrying out of the invention that the spring for its entire length, except at the ends, be unattached, so that it will be free for lateral adjustment within the casing or pocket of the collar-band, thus permitting the spring to assu me any position within the band which it may be caused to assume by the application of the collar to the neck. In other words, not only the collar-band itself will adjust itself to any sized neck, but the spring within the band will also assume a posit-ion con forming to the shape of the neck and affording the greatest degree of comfort to the wearer.

Normally the collar-band is coiled by the spring into a shape so as to fit the smallest neck, so that when the collar is applied to the band of the dress the spring will contract the same upon such band and will hold it seen rely in place without the aid of pins, hooks and eyes, or other fasteners such as are commonly employed. At the same time the shape of the collar will cause it to comfortably and neatly fit the neck.

Other advantages of the construction herein described will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without further description, and I would have it understood that changes in the form, proportion, and mi nor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- As a new article of manufacture, a collarsupport having its lower edge longer than its upper edge and comprising a pair of segmental layers connected only at their edges and defining a sheath, one of said layers being stiffened, a spring-band located within said sheath and having a permanent connection at its ends to the ends of the collar-support midway between the upper and lower edges of the latter, the said spring being entirely disconnected except at its ends and having free and independent movement toward the top and bottom edges of the sheath, except at 

